Interlocking lug construction

ABSTRACT

A packing crate or lug of the type particularly adapted for the boxing of grapes and similar foodstuffs. The lug differs from a substantially conventional lug in that it specifically includes elongated upwardly projecting locking members affixed to the top cleats and receivable within corresponding recesses defined in the bottom cleats of superimposed lugs. The members and recesses are so orientated as to preclude a shifting of the lugs both longitudinally and transversely of each other.

United States Patent Everett E. Langston 2932 Elmwood Ave., Bakersfield, Calif. 93305 May 15, 1969 Mar. 16, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented INTERLOCKING LUG CONSTRUCTION 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 217/42, 220/97 Int. Cl 865d 21/00 Field of Search 217/42, 40, 97

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1906 Waters 220/97X 1,565,993 12/1925 Fitzpatrick 220/97 3,395,823 8/1968 Langston 217/40 3,448,914 6/1969 Scholz 220/97 3,481,502 12/1969 Slayman 217/42 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,061 8/1935 Australia 217/40 Primary Examiner-Raphael l-l. Schwartz Attorneys-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A packing crate or lug of the type particularly adapted for the boxing of grapes and similar foodstuffs. The lug differs from a substantially conventional lug in that it specifically includes elongated upwardly projecting locking members affixed to the top cleats and receivable within corresponding recesses defined in the bottom cleats of superimposed lugs. The members and recesses are so orientated as to preclude a shifting of the lugs both longitudinally and transversely of each other.

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Everett E. Langston INVENTOR.

HNTERLOCKHNG LUG CONSTRUCTIQN The instant invention is concerned with new and useful improvements in the construction of grape lugs and the like which, within the scope of conventional practices, construction techniques, and government regulations, result in a significantly improved product arrived at in both a feasible and a highly economical manner.

it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a lug which incorporates a highly unique stabilizing feature wherein a stacking of a plurality of the lugs is possible without fear of damage due to a lateral or longitudinal shifting of the lugs relative to each other.

Another highly significant object of the instant invention resides in the provision of stackable nonshifting lugs which can be constructed utilizing conventional construction techniques and which is economically feasible, this being particularly significant inasmuch as literally millions of lugs are used each year.

Shippers of perishable commodities, such as grapes, in lugs have and are still experiencing heavy in transit damage arising from a shifting of the stacked lugs. This shifting results in a tendency for the upper lugs to slide off the support cleats of the lower lugs and drop into the lower lugs so as to not only damage the goods in the immediately adjacent lower lug, but also, in some instances, set up what in effect amounts to a chain reaction with the shifting continuing along an entire stack of lugs. While many solutions have been put forth relative to feasible means for preventing such a shifting of the stacked lugs, most of the solutions heretofore arrived at require either specially constructed lugs which could conflict with federal regulations as to size and the like, and which also, in many cases, are prohibitively expensive in view of the large number of lugs annually required;

The solution to this vexing problem with regard to the safe shipping of perishable goods as proposed herein is, in addition to being highly unique, both simple and economically feasible, requiring, in addition to the conventional lug construction, only the provision of a pair of upstanding locking members or small cleats on the main top cleats and corresponding member receiving recesses on the bottom cleats normally provided in such lug construction- These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. Us a perspective view of a pair of superimposed lugs exploded away from each other for purposes of illustration;

MG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 2 2 in FIG. 1;

MG. 3 is an elevational view, with portions broken away for purposes of illustration, of a stack of three lugs;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom slats and bottom cleats; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 5-5 .in FIG. 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral is used to generally designate a lug constructed in accordance with the instant invention. This lug 10 includes a pair of rectangular end or head pieces 12, substantially full length rectangular side slats 14 nailed to the opposite ends of the end pieces '12, a lid 16, and a bottom 18.

The lid 16 will preferably be of the clip-on type consisting of a performed unit including a pair of top slats 29 having the opposed ends thereof secured to overlying transversely extending top cleats 22. These two cleats 22 will have slots 24 defined therein, these slots 24 also extending through the corresponding ends of the top slats Ztl, for engagement about the shanks of predriven mounting nails or clips 25. when mounted, the lid will present approximately a one inch crown between the top or lid cleats so as to avoid the appearance of being slack packed upon arrival at the destination.

The bottom 18 consists of a plurality of slats 26, normally two or three such slats being provided, which are underlaid at the opposite edges thereof, by transversely extending bottom cleats 28 which are secured to the lower edge of the end head pieces 12 by appropriate driven fasteners or nails 30 engaged through the bottom cleats 28 and the overlying ends of the slats 26. As will be appreciated from the drawings, the outer edges of both the top and bottom cleats 22 and 28 align with the outer faces of the end pieces 12. In stacking the lugs, it is normal for the bottom cleats 28 of the superimposed lug it) to seat directly on the upper cleats 22 of the subjacent lug 10, the combined height of the cleats being sufficient so as to easily accommodate the crown of the lid slats 20.

As will be recognized, when stacked in this manner, it is quite conceivable that the upper lugs will slip and tend to shift or drop into the lower lugs during transit, for example in railroad cars and the like. Accordingly, in order to avoid thishighly significant and vexing problem, the top cleats 22 of the lugs 10 are provided with elongated locking strips or members 32, each of which is both narrower and shorter than the corresponding top cleat 22 and is so positioned as to be flush with the inner edge of the corresponding top cleat 22 and inwardly otfset both from the outer edge of the top cleat and from the opposed ends thereof. It is believed that the relationship between each locking member 32 and the corresponding top cleat 22 will be readily appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2.

in order to accommodate the upwardly projecting elongated locking members 32, each of the bottom cleats 28 includes a central recess 34 defined therein. Each recess 34 is centrally located within the corresponding bottom cleat 28, opening through the inner longitudinal edge thereof so as to, in the same manner as the corresponding locking member 32, to be effect inwardly offset both from the outer edge of the bottom cleat 28 and from the opposed ends thereof. The bottom cleat recesses 34 are of course so orientated as to directly:

align with the upwardly projecting locking members 32 of a subjacent lug 10 in a stack of lugs 10, note for example FIGS. 3 and 5. By the same token, the recesses 34 are of a size so as to closely although not tightly receive the corresponding locking members 32. in other words, the relative size between the recesses 34 and the locking members 32 are such so as to not interfere with the rapid stacking of the lugs, while at the same time insuring a positive interlock therebetween. lncidently, with regard to this interlock, it will be appreciated that once an upper lug 10 is set on a lower lug 10 with the upwardly projecting locking members 32 of the lower lug received in the downwardly and inwardly opening recesses 34 of the upper lug, there can be neither a longitudinal nor a lateral shifting of the lugs 10 relative to each other. Other features which will be readily apparent from the drawings are that the recesses 34 extend through the full height or thickness of the bottom cleats 28, while the locking members or strips 32 are of a height slightly less than that of the bottom cleats 28 so as to, while positively interlocking with the recesses 34, not interfere with the firm seating of the bottom cleats 28 of an upper lug on the top cleats 22 of a lower lug. Also of significance is the fact that the recesses 34 actually open through the inner edges of the bottom cleats 28 while the locking members 32 have the inner edges thereof coplanar with the corresponding inner edges of the top cleats in that, in this manner, a rapid stacking and interlocking of the lugs can be effected by merely slightly raising one end of the upper lug and sliding the bottom recess 34 of the opposite end thereof over the upwardly projecting locking member 32 of the lower lug and then lowering the raised end of the lug, thus in effect enabling a quick swinging of one lug onto another lug, achieving the positive interlock as the stacking is being effected.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique lug construction has been defined, this construction enhancing a substantially conventional lug in a unique and highly simplified manner whereby means is provided for effecting a positive interlock between stacked lugs so as to preclude shifting both longitudinally and laterally. This in turn avoids substantial damage to the damage to the foodstuffs normally packaged and shipped in such lugs in a highly economical and easily effected manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not e desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of he the invention.

I claim:

1. In a packing lug, a pair of laterally spaced rectangular end pieces, a pair of side slats having the opposite ends thereof secured to the side edges of said end pieces so as to define a rectangular enclosure, a lid overlying said enclosure, said lid comprising top slats extending transversely between and overlying the upper edges of said end pieces, a pair of top cleats, one top cleat paralleling and directly overlying the upper edge of each end piece with the top slats therebetween, a naillike id lid fasteners fixed within and extending upwardly from the upper edges of said end pieces, said top slats and top cleats, at the opposite ends of the lid, both including outwardly opening and inwardly extending slots therein for slidable reception of the naillike lid fasteners therein upon an outward movement of the opposite ends of the lid for securing the lid to the end pieces in overlying relation thereto, and a bottom, said bottom comprising bottom slats extending transversely between and underlying the lower edges of said end pieces, and a pair of bottom cleats, said bottom cleats paralleling directly underlying and being secured to the lower edges of the end pieces with the bottom slats therebetween, each top cleat being rectangular and including parallel inner and outer edges, opposed ends and parallel substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, each top cleat including an elongated upwardly extending locking member secured to the upper surface of the cleat along one edge thereof and in spaced relation to the second edge and the opposed ends thereof, each bottom cleat being rectangular and including parallel inner and outer edges, opposed ends and parallel substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, each bottom cleat including an elongated recess in alignment with and slightly larger than the elongated locking member of the corresponding top cleat for the reception of a similar locking member of a subjacent lug upon a stacking of the lugs, the recess in each bottom cleat being along the edge of the bottom cleat corresponding to said one edge of the overlying top cleat and in spaced relation to the second edge and the opposed ends of the bottom cleat.

2. The construction of claim 1, wherein said locking members and said recesses are substantially rectangular. 

1. In a packing lug, a pair of laterally spaced rectangular end pieces, a pair of side slats having the opposite ends thereof secured to the side edges of said end pieces so as to define a rectangular enclosure, a lid overlying said enclosure, said lid comprising top slats extending transversely between and overlying the upper edges of said end pieces, a pair of top cleats, one top cleat paralleling and directly overlying the upper edge of each end piece with the top slats therebetween, a naillike id lid fasteners fixed within and extending upwardly from the upper edges of said end pieces, said top slats and top cleats, at the opposite ends of the lid, both including outwardly opening and inwardly extending slots therein for slidable reception of the naillike lid fasteners therein upon an outward movement of the opposite ends of the lid for securing the lid to the end pieces in overlying relation thereto, and a bottom, said bottom comprising bottom slats extending transversely between and underlying the lower edges of said end pieces, and a pair of bottom cleats, said bottom cleats paralleling directly underlying and being secured to the lower edges of the end pieces with the bottom slats therebetween, each top cleat being rectangular and including parallel inner and outer edges, opposed ends and parallel substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, each top cleat including an elongated upwardly extending locking member secured to the upper surface of the cleat along one edge thereof and in spaced relation to the second edge and the opposed ends thereof, each bottom cleat being rectangular and including parallel inner and outer edges, opposed ends and parallel substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, each bottom cleat including an elongated recess in alignment with and sLightly larger than the elongated locking member of the corresponding top cleat for the reception of a similar locking member of a subjacent lug upon a stacking of the lugs, the recess in each bottom cleat being along the edge of the bottom cleat corresponding to said one edge of the overlying top cleat and in spaced relation to the second edge and the opposed ends of the bottom cleat.
 2. The construction of claim 1, wherein said locking members and said recesses are substantially rectangular. 